2006–07 Toronto Maple Leafs season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	2006–07
Year:	2006
Team:	Toronto Maple Leafs
Conferencerank:	9th
Divisionrank:	3rd
Record:	40–31–11
Homerecord:	21–15–5
Roadrecord:	19–16–6
Goalsfor:	258
Goalsagainst:	269
Goalsleader:	Mats Sundin (27)
Assistsleader:	Mats Sundin (49)
Pointsleader:	Mats Sundin (76)
Pimleader:	Bryan McCabe (115)
Plusminusleader:	Hal Gill (+11)
Winsleader:	Andrew Raycroft (37)
Gaaleader:	Mikael Tellqvist (2.03)

The 2006–07 NHL season saw the Toronto Maple Leafs attempting to recover from a 2005–06 season in which it finished two points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Offseason

Michael Peca was a major addition to the team for 2006–07, signed from the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. However, Peca suffered a broken leg in December after scoring just 4 goals in 35 games.

Goaltender Andrew Raycroft was acquired in a trade from the Boston Bruins to take over the starting job vacancy created by Ed Belfour's departure to the Florida Panthers.

Regular season

On January 4, 2007, the Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins 10–2 away. Alexander Steen scored a hat-trick in the victory.^[1] It was the first time that an NHL team had scored ten goals in a regular season game since January 14, 2006, when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Los Angeles Kings 10–1 at home.^[2] It was also the first time that the Maple Leafs had scored ten goals in a regular season game since November 12, 1998, when they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 10–3 away.^[3]

Although they finished in third place in the Northeast Division, the Maple Leafs ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs after the New York Islanders clinched the eighth and final playoff spot after a 3–2 victory in a shootout to the New Jersey Devils, finishing just one point out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Maple Leafs tied the Dallas Stars for fewest shorthanded goals scored during the regular season with three.^[4]

Season standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 1 || October 4 || Ottawa || 4–1 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,520 || 0–1–0 || 0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || October 5 || Toronto || 6–0 || Ottawa || || Raycroft || 19,237 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"| 3 || October 7 || Montreal || 3–2 || Toronto || SO || Raycroft || 19,353 || 1–1–1 || 3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 4 || October 9 || Florida || 1–2 || Toronto || SO || Raycroft || 19,102 || 2–1–1 || 5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"| 5 || October 12 || Toronto || 6–7 || New Jersey || SO || Aubin || 15,623 || 2–1–2 || 6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 6 || October 14 || Calgary || 4–5 || Toronto || OT || Raycroft || 19,338 || 3–1–2 || 8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 7 || October 18 || Colorado || 4–1 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,463 || 3–2–2 || 8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 8 || October 20 || Toronto || 4–2 || Columbus || || Raycroft || 17,303 || 4–2–2 || 10 || |- align="center"| 9 || October 21 || NY Rangers || 5–4 || Toronto || SO || Raycroft || 19,419 || 4–2–3 || 11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 10 || October 24 || Ottawa || 6–2 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,485 || 4–3–3 || 11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 11 || October 26 || Toronto || 2–7 || Ottawa || || Raycroft || 19,178 || 4–4–3 || 11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 12 || October 28 || Toronto || 5–4 || Montreal || SO || Aubin || 21,273 || 5–4–3 || 13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 13 || October 30 || Atlanta || 2–4 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,285 || 6–4–3 || 15 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 14 || November 1 || Toronto || 4–2 || Tampa Bay || || Raycroft || 19,977 || 7–4–3 || 17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 15 || November 2 || Toronto || 2–4 || Florida || || Aubin || 13,233 || 7–5–3 || 17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 16 || November 4 || Toronto || 4–1 || Buffalo || || Raycroft || 18,690 || 8–5–3 || 19 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 17 || November 6 || Philadelphia || 1–4 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,501 || 9–5–3 || 21 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 18 || November 9 || Toronto || 6–4 || Boston || || Raycroft || 14,835 || 10–5–3 || 23 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 19 || November 11 † || Montreal || 1–5 || Toronto || || Aubin || 19,501 || 11–5–3 || 25 || |- align="center"| 20 || November 16 || Toronto || 1–2 || Boston || SO || Aubin || 12,665 || 11–5–4 || 26 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 21 || November 18 || New Jersey || 2–1 || Toronto || || Tellqvist || 19,409 || 11–6–4 || 26 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 22 || November 20 || NY Islanders || 2–4 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,392 || 12–6–4 || 28 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 23 || November 22 || Toronto || 4–7 || Buffalo || || Raycroft || 18,690 || 12–7–4 || 28 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 24 || November 24 || Toronto || 7–1 || Washington || || Raycroft || 14,892 || 13–7–4 || 30 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 25 || November 25 || Boston || 3–1 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,473 || 13–8–4 || 30 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 26 || November 28 || Boston || 4–1 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,469 || 13–9–4 || 30 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 27 || November 30 || Toronto || 0–5 || Atlanta || || Raycroft || 15,092 || 13–10–4 || 30 || |-|- align="center"| 28 || December 2 || Toronto || 3–4 || Montreal || SO || Raycroft || 21,273 || 13–10–5 || 31 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 29 || December 5 || Atlanta || 5–2 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,507 || 13–11–5 || 31 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 30 || December 7 || Toronto || 1–3 || Boston || || Aubin || 13,407 || 13–12–5 || 31 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 31 || December 9 || Toronto || 1–5 || Detroit || || Raycroft || 20,066 || 13–13–5 || 31 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 32 || December 12 || Tampa Bay || 4–5 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,462 || 14–13–5 || 33 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 33 || December 15 || Toronto || 4–3 || Carolina || || Raycroft || 18,639 || 15–13–5 || 35 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 34 || December 16 || NY Rangers || 2–9 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,468 || 16–13–5 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 35 || December 19 || Florida || 7–3 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,444 || 16–14–5 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 36 || December 22 || Toronto || 1–3 || Chicago || || Aubin || 17,950 || 16–15–5 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 37 || December 23 || Washington || 3–2 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,488 || 16–16–5 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 38 || December 26 || Minnesota || 3–4 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,355 || 17–16–5 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 39 || December 29 || Toronto || 1–4 || Pittsburgh || || Aubin || 17,132 || 17–17–5 || 39 || |- align="center"| 40 || December 30 || Ottawa || 3–2 || Toronto || OT || Raycroft || 19,483 || 17–17–6 || 40 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 41 || January 1 || Boston || 1–5 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,359 || 18–17–6 || 42 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 42 || January 4 || Toronto || 10–2 || Boston || || Raycroft || 14,560 || 19–17–6 || 44 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 43 || January 6 || Buffalo || 4–3 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,487 || 19–18–6 || 44 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 44 || January 9 || Carolina || 4–1 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,447 || 19–19–6 || 44 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 45 || January 11 || Toronto || 4–2 || Buffalo || || Raycroft || 18,690 || 20–19–6 || 46 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 46 || January 13 || Vancouver || 6–1 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,608 || 20–20–6 || 46 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 47 || January 16 || Toronto || 4–2 || Tampa Bay || || Raycroft || 19,830 || 21–20–6 || 48 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 48 || January 18 || Toronto || 3–2 || Florida || || Raycroft || 12,242 || 22–20–6 || 50 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 49 || January 20 || Toronto || 2–8 || Pittsburgh || || Raycroft || 17,132 || 22–21–6 || 50 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 50 || January 27 || Montreal|| 1–4 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 17,132 || 23–21–6 || 52 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 51 || January 30 || Toronto || 4–1 || Carolina || || Raycroft || 16,533 || 24–21–6 || 54 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 52 || January 31 || Toronto || 2–1 || NY Rangers || || Raycroft || 18,200 || 25–21–6 || 56 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 53 || February 3 || Toronto || 3–2 || Ottawa || SO || Raycroft || 20,112 || 26–21–6 || 58 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 54 || February 6 || Toronto || 2–1 || St. Louis || || Raycroft || 9,533 || 27–21–6 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 55 || February 8 || Toronto || 2–4 || Nashville || || Raycroft || 15,018 || 27–22–6 || 60 || |- align="center"| 56 || February 10 || Pittsburgh || 6–5 || Toronto || OT || Raycroft || 19,620 || 27–22–7 || 61 || |- align="center"| 57 || February 13 || NY Islanders || 3–2 || Toronto || SO || Raycroft || 19,600 || 27–22–8 || 62 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 58 || February 15 || Toronto || 4–2 || Philadelphia || || Raycroft || 19,321 || 28–22–8 || 64 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 59 || February 17 || Edmonton || 3–4 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,599 || 29–22–8 || 66 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 60 || February 20 || Boston || 3–0 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,578 || 29–23–8 || 66 || |- align="center"| 61 || February 22 || Toronto || 2–3 || NY Islanders || SO || Raycroft || 11,759 || 29–23–9 || 67 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 62 || February 24 || Toronto || 5–2 || Philadelphia || || Raycroft || 19,277 || 30–23–9 || 69 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 63 || February 26 || Toronto || 4–5 || Montreal || || Raycroft || 21,273 || 30–24–9 || 69 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 64 || February 27 || Buffalo || 6–1 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,588 || 30–25–9 || 69 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 65 || March 2 || Toronto || 4–3 || New Jersey || SO || Raycroft || 15,095 || 31–25–9 || 71 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 66|| March 3 || Buffalo || 3–1 || Toronto || || Aubin || 19,588 || 31–26–9 || 71 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 67 || March 6 || Washington || 0–3 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,531 || 32–26–9 || 73 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 68 || March 8 || Toronto || 1–5 || Ottawa || || Raycroft || 20,018 || 32–27–9 || 73 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 69 || March 10 || Ottawa || 3–4 || Toronto || OT || Raycroft || 19,527 || 33–27–9 || 75 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 70 || March 13 || Tampa Bay || 2–3 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,530 || 34–27–9 || 77 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 71 || March 16 || Toronto || 1–5 || Washington || || Raycroft || 16,281 || 34–28–9 || 77 || |- align="center"| 72 || March 17 || Toronto || 2–3 || Montreal || SO || Raycroft || 21,273 || 34–28–10 || 78 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 73 || March 20 || New Jersey || 1–2 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,518 || 35–28–10 || 80 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbbbbb"| 74 || March 23 || Toronto || 4–5 || Buffalo || || Raycroft || 18,690 || 35–29–10 || 80 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbfbbb"| 75 || March 24 || Buffalo || 1–4 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,571 || 36–29–10 || 82 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbfbbb"| 76 || March 27 || Carolina || 1–6 || Toronto || || Raycroft || 19,559 || 37–29–10 || 84 || |- align="center"| 77 || March 29 || Toronto || 2–3 || Atlanta || OT || Raycroft || 17,062 || 37–29–11 || 85 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbfbbb"| 78 || March 31 || Pittsburgh || 4–5 || Toronto || OT || Raycroft || 19,649 || 38–29–11 || 87 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#fbbbbb"| 79 || April 1 || Toronto || 2–7 || NY Rangers || || Raycroft || 18,200 || 38–30–11 || 87 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbfbbb"| 80 || April 3 || Philadelphia || 2–3 || Toronto || OT || Raycroft || 19,547 || 39–30–11 || 89 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbbbbb"| 81 || April 5 || Toronto || 2–5 || NY Islanders || || Raycroft || 14,352 || 39–31–11 || 89 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbfbbb"| 82 || April 7 || Montreal || 5–6 || Toronto || || Aubin || 19,723 || 40–31–11 || 91 || |-|-| Legend:

† Hockey Hall of Fame Game

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.

	Regular season
	Player
13		C	75	27	49	76	−2	62
15		D	74	11	47	58	3	20
24		D	82	15	42	57	3	115
23		LW	71	21	24	45	8	63
16		RW	56	24	19	43	−11	81
92		RW	74	20	22	42	1	54
42		C	48	12	30	42	3	0
14		C	82	10	29	39	3	44
10		C	82	15	20	35	5	26
80		C	54	18	15	33	8	44
33		LW	82	12	19	31	9	45
21		C	74	13	16	29	−4	10
18		LW	82	14	14	28	−5	58
7		D	76	3	23	26	8	40
31		D	61	7	14	21	7	48
25		D	82	6	14	20	11	91
22		C	33	8	11	19	4	12
8		D	48	8	9	17	5	22
27		C	35	4	11	15	2	60
94		C	17	2	3	5	1	4
36		D	31	1	4	5	−3	19
54		C	15	2	2	4	4	26
3		D	65	0	3	3	−8	110
26		RW	16	0	2	2	−5	20
56		D	15	0	2	2	−1	14
48		C	1	1	0	1	1	0
1		G	72	0	1	1		8
30		G	20	0	0	0		0
39		C	24	0	0	0	1	21
43		D	5	0	0	0	−5	6
9		RW	14	0	0	0	−6	4
32		G	1	0	0	0		0
39		C	2	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Maple Leafs only.

	Regular season
	Player
1		72	37	25	9	1931	205	2.99	.894	2	4108
30		20	3	5	2	371	46	3.43	.876	0	804
32		1	0	1	0	19	2	2.03	.895	0	59

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Tomas Kaberle	^[5]
	NHL First Star of the Week	Andrew Raycroft (February 4)	^[6]
	NHL Second Star of the Week	Andrew Raycroft (November 5)
	NHL Third Star of the Week	Mats Sundin (October 15)
	NHL YoungStars Game selection	Alexander Steen	^[7]
Team	Molson Cup	Mats Sundin	^[8]

Transactions

Trades

June 24, 2006	To Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask	To Toronto Maple Leafs Andrew Raycroft
June 24, 2006	To Chicago Blackhawks 3rd-round pick in 2006	To Toronto Maple Leafs 4th-round pick in 2006 4th-round pick in 2006
June 24, 2006	To Phoenix Coyotes 7th-round pick in 2006 7th-round pick in 2006	To Toronto Maple Leafs 6th-round pick in 2006
November 29, 2006	To Phoenix Coyotes Mikael Tellqvist	To Toronto Maple Leafs Tyson Nash 4th-round pick in 2007
February 27, 2007^[9]	To Phoenix Coyotes Brendan Bell 2nd-round pick in 2007	To Toronto Maple Leafs Yanic Perreault 5th-round pick in 2007

Free agents acquired

Player	Former Team
	Edmonton Oilers
	Boston Bruins
	Tampa Bay Lightning
	Phoenix Coyotes
	Minnesota Wild
	Toronto Marlies (AHL – Minor League contract)

Free agents lost

Player	New Team
	Retired
	Dallas Stars
	UFA
	TPS (SM-liiga)
	HC Davos (Swiss-A)
	Tampa Bay Lightning
	Florida Panthers

Claimed off waivers

Player	Former Team	Date
		January 10

Draft picks

Toronto's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[10] The Leafs had the 13th overall draft pick in the 2005–06 NHL season. The Maple Leaf's 2006 draft has been referred to in retrospectives as one of the most successful drafts for any team in league history, as all but one of the team's picks (Tyler Ruegsegger) would go on to become NHL regulars at some point in their careers. Leo Komarov, the 180th pick, would be named an NHL All-Star in 2016.

Round		Player	NHL team	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	13	Jiri Tlusty (LW)	Toronto Maple Leafs	HC Rabat Kladno (Czech Extraliga)
2	44	Nikolai Kulemin (W)	Toronto Maple Leafs	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (RSL)
4	99	James Reimer (G)	Toronto Maple Leafs (from Columbus)	Red Deer (WHL)
4	111	Korbinian Holzer (D)	Toronto Maple Leafs (from Colorado)	EC Bad Tölz (Eishockey-Bundesliga)
6	161	Viktor Stalberg (LW)	Toronto Maple Leafs (from Phoenix)	Frölunda HC (Elitserien)
6	166	Tyler Ruegsegger (C)	Toronto Maple Leafs	Shattuck-Saint Mary's / University of Denver
6	200	Leo Komarov (C)	Toronto Maple Leafs (from Dallas)	Ässät (SM-liiga)

References

Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs 2006-07 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 28, 2024.
Web site: 2006-07 Toronto Maple Leafs Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 28, 2024.

Notes and References

Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins Box Score — January 4, 2007.
Web site: Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres Box Score — January 14, 2006.
Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs at Chicago Blackhawks Box Score — November 12, 1998.
Web site: 2006-07 NHL Summary.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 2007 . NHL.com . August 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417032251/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28972 . April 17, 2023.
Web site: NHL Three Stars of the Week . Hockey-Reference.com . August 4, 2024.
Web site: 2006-07 NHL Young Stars Rosters . TSN.ca . August 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070202221737/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=8902&hubname= . February 2, 2007.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2015–16 Media Guide, p.373
Web site: Leafs Re-Acquire Perreault. February 26, 2007. MapleLeafs.com.
2006 2006 Draft Index http://www.mapleleafs.com/draft2006.asp – accessed January 4, 2007